Tofu Turkey
How to prepare a vegetarian “turkey”!
INGREDIENTS:
5 lbs extra firm tofu, crumbled
2 tbs sesame oil
1 large red onion, finely diced
1 1/3 cups diced celery
1 cup chopped mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 cup dried sage
2 tsp dried thyme
1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 cup tamari
3 cups prepared herb stuffing
1/2 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup tamari
2 tbs miso paste
5 tbs orange juice
1 tsp honey mustard
1/2 tsp orange zest
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
DIRECTIONS:
1. Line a medium sized, round colander with a cheese cloth or a clean dish towel.
2. Place the crumbled tofu in the colander. Place another cheese cloth over the top of the tofu.
3. Place the colander over the top of a bowl to catch the liquid. Place a heavy weight on top of tofu.
4. Refrigerate the colander, tofu and weight for 2 to 3 hours.
5. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan saute onion, celery and mushrooms in 2 tbs of the sesame oil until tender.
6. Add the garlic, sage, thyme, salt and pepper, rosemary and 1/4 cup of the tamari.
7. Stir well; cook for 5 minutes. Add prepared herb stuffing and mix well. Remove from heat.
8. Preheat the oven to 400. Grease a cookie sheet.
9. Combine 1/2 cup sesame oil, 1/4 cup tamari, miso, orange juice, mustard and orange zest in a small bowl; mix well.
10. Remove the weight from the tofu. Hollow out the tofu so that there is one inch of tofu still lining the colander.
11. Place the scooped out tofu in a separate bowl. Brush the tofu lining with a small amount of the miso seasoning.
12. Scoop the stuffing into the center of the tofu shell.
13. Place the leftover tofu on top of the stuffing and press down firmly.
14. Invert stuffed tofu onto the prepared cookie sheet.
15. Gently press on the sides of the “turkey” to form a more oval shape.
16. Brush the tofu turkey with 1/2 of the oil-tamari mixture. Place the sprigs of rosemary on top of the tofu.
17. Cover the “turkey” with foil. Bake for one hour.
18. After one hour, remove “turkey” from the oven and remove the foil.
19. Baste the “turkey” with the remaining tamari-oil sauce (reserving 4 tbs of sauce).
20. Return “turkey” to oven and bake another hour or until the tofu turkey is golden brown.
21. Place the tofu turkey on a serving platter, brush with the remaining tamari-oil mixture and serve hot.
Prep: 45 minutes
Cook: 130 minutes
Serves: 10